Graham Urges Trump to Use Emergency Powers

Supporters and protesters react as they see Air Force One come into view during a visit by President Trump, at McAllen Miller International Airport on Thursday, Jan. 10, 2019, in McAllen, Texas. (Joel Martinez/The Monitor via AP)

(Newser)
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The government shutdown caused by the border wall standoff is now in its 21st day—tied for the longest ever—and both sides are braced for President Trump to use his emergency powers to break the impasse and pay for the wall. Many Republicans are uncomfortable with the idea, but Republican Sen. Lindsey Graham said it was time for the move Thursday, CNN reports. Nancy Pelosi's "refusal to negotiate" on funding "virtually ends the congressional path to funding for a border wall/barrier," Graham said in a statement. "It is time for President Trump to use emergency powers to fund the construction of a border wall/barrier." He acknowledged that such a move would face court challenges to determine whether it fits the "statutory definition of emergency." More:

Trump eyes disaster funding. Sources tell the Washington Post that Trump may be preparing to get the Army to build the wall, using some of the $13.9 billion allocated to the Army Corps of Engineers for public works projects in a disaster spending bill passed after devastating floods and wildfires last year. The sources say Trump is also eyeing money in the military construction budget. Several Republicans have criticized the plan. "I don't like the idea of pulling money out of defense and military construction and the Army Corps of Engineers," says Republican Rep. Mike Simpson of Idaho. "That’s not a good option."

America's Founding Fathers created 3 branches of government: the Congress, the Office of the President, and the Supreme Court. Our Founding Fathers intended for EACH government branch to be EQUAL to the other 2 and no branch subservient to the others. Our Founding Fathers wrote Article 1 of the U.S. Constitution to ensure that America would never have a king or queen in control of our country. And among other things, Article 1 gives monetary appropriations responsibility and oversight to Congress, NOT the President. Yet Republican Congressional House and Senate members are perfectly willing to shirk their Article 1 Constitutional responsibility and allow Donald J. Trump to act like a "King" instead of a co-equal branch of government. How are they doing this? By their willingness to allow Trump to declare a phony "national emergency" as a way to "obtain" (basically misappropriate) our taxpayer dollars to build his southern border vanity "monument" (i.e., wall). In effect, Congressional Republicans are doing this so "His Majesty", "King" Trump can erect this physical vanity "monument" in "His" name, just like the ancient Egyptian Pharoaohs did, when they built Pyramids as monuments to themselves. ........ 1 of 3 (continued below)............

I_Like_Chuckles

Jan 12, 2019 3:02 AM CST

.....2 of 3 (continued from above)............... If you think I'm wrong about Congressional Republicans surrendering their Article 1 Constitiutional authority and power to "King" Trump, then consider the following: 1. Just look at how Republican Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell refuses to allow ANY vote to reopen the federal government, UNLESS the bill being voted on includes specific funding for His Majesty, "King" Trump's "monument" (wall). Just look at how almost all Congressional Republicans, but especially Republican Senator Lindsey Graham are urging His Majesty, "King" Trump to BYPASS Congress' Article 1 appropriations authority and just declare a "national emergency" to "obtain" (misappropriate) the funds needed to build the wall that MEXICO WAS SUPPOSED TO PAY FOR. In other words, Mitch McConnell, Lindsey Graham, and every other Congressional Republican has ceded away all the Article 1 power and authority afforded them by the Constitution to Trump, thus surrendering their position as a co-equal branch to the Office of the President. And no Congressional Republican dares to do or say something against Trump's will......BECAUSE they owe their very soul and existence to President, or should I say, His Majesty, "King" Donald J. Trump. 2. And now, as part of the "national emergency" declaration, "King" Trump and his "Castle" (oops, I mean White House) advisors have "decreed" that the "King" will take $5.7 billion dollars from our brave Military and up to $13 billion dollars from FEMA, and give this money to the Army Corps of Engineers to build His Majesty's "Great Pyramid", (oops, I mean "wall"). This is $5.7 billion and $13 billion dollars of taxpayer money that was lawfully appropriated by Congress for: (a). projects to support our Military services, and, (b). relief efforts to help hurricane victims in our Southern States, Virgin Island and Puerto Rico, and help the victims of the West Coast forest fires. Too bad if you are one of the unfortunate disaster victims about to be victimized again, when King Trump snatches FEMA funds away from you to build His "monument" on our southern border.

I_Like_Chuckles

Jan 12, 2019 3:01 AM CST

.....3 of 3 (continued from above)............... When 46% of American voters elected Trump president in 2016, I bet they didn't know they were establishing America's very first "Monarchy". But that is exactly what all you Trump voters did, because YOUR Congressional Republicans have completely abandoned any sense of their Article 1 Constitutional responsibility, in fear of "King" Trump. So to all my fellow Americans who voted for and support Trump, I say the following: (A). Welcome to the "Kingdom" of Donald J. Trump, and, (B). Please don't forget to bow down before YOUR "King"! Meanwhile, the rest of us Americans will continue to resist and oppose "King" Trump and his "Court" of Congressional Republican "flunkies"..... until we vote them out of power in 2020!